Spoiler! DONT HATE ME! I liked FC

[Galekarens]

Hello, I think this will also be the last thing I say about FC (which I still may or may not read more of). I just don't think I can support an editorial decision that makes me feel dread about reading a book that I would otherwise like to read. I've read about a number of FC readers saying that the book made them feel very sad. So why would I willingly let myself experience such a disaster? I'm not a masochist. Is this how TPTB want some fans to feel about their books; I guess they do, but why (power trip, maybe)? So, maybe no more Voyager books for me and THAT does make me feel sad, and cheated. Well, good luck (not), Pocket books & Janeway does live on no matter what you think, & you may have won the battle, but not the war. GS, 40 yr Trek fan. PS, and I would think (no offense to other fans' sincere opinions) that in the hands of a vg writer, the rest of the crew could have been developed just as well as with the current situation, if not better.

 

[Brit]

I don't see how the stories would be any better either.

Maybe if you read them you'd understand...

Then why are you not reading this

http://www.the-borderlands.com/moonstruck.html

or any of these

http://www.linneasinclair.com/books.html

Maybe if you did you might understand what we want to read.

Brit

 

[AuntKate]

I don't see how the stories would be any better either.

Maybe if you read them you'd understand...

Then why are you not reading this

http://www.the-borderlands.com/moonstruck.html

or any of these

http://www.linneasinclair.com/books.html

Maybe if you did you might understand what we want to read.

Brit

Yeah. I think the Star Trek editors and writers believe that scifi "romance" is beneath them. So, Linnea Sinclair, Susan Grant, and others like them are mining an audience that is hungry for good books, an audience that would gladly purchase Star Trek books that were more relationship-friendly. I've read "Moonstruck" and "Gabriel's Ghost" and have two or three more in my "to read" list--bought with money that I used to spend on Star Trek books.

"Full Circle" sounds like a book that actually has a romance angle and, so I hear, it is selling very well. Surprise, surprise. Of course, it's typical that the Star Trek universe makes sure that a continuing relationship can't be explored by killing off one of the principals. Not only that, they seem determined to stick with that decision, even though reviving her (and the romance) would probably make their sales skyrocket.

Boggles the imagination.

 

[JB2005]

Maybe if you read them you'd understand...

Then why are you not reading this

http://www.the-borderlands.com/moonstruck.html

or any of these

http://www.linneasinclair.com/books.html

Maybe if you did you might understand what we want to read.

Brit

Well since this is the first I've heard of them, then that's why I'm not reading them...

Yeah. I think the Star Trek editors and writers believe that scifi "romance" is beneath them. So, Linnea Sinclair, Susan Grant, and others like them are mining an audience that is hungry for good books, an audience that would gladly purchase Star Trek books that were more relationship-friendly.

Not being a writer/editor I couldn't comment with much authority, but I think that the books are becoming more relationship-friendly (P/C, J/C, W/C, R/T etc etc) but that Star Trek has never been primarily a romance-oriented thing...

In fact in the Lit thread there have been comments to the effect that people think the books are becoming too romance oriented...

Proving once again you can't satisfy everyone...

I've read "Moonstruck" and "Gabriel's Ghost" and have two or three more in my "to read" list--bought with money that I used to spend on Star Trek books.

It's what they call an opportunity cost in business, there's two things, you can't afford them both so you buy one. The opportunity cost is the one you didn't buy (in this case the Trek books)

"Full Circle" sounds like a book that actually has a romance angle and, so I hear, it is selling very well. Surprise, surprise.

The two aren't necessarily connected to be fair, it's like saying aeroplanes have wheels and, so i hear, they fly...

Of course, it's typical that the Star Trek universe makes sure that a continuing relationship can't be explored by killing off one of the principals.

Actually it's a-typical (see above)

Not only that, they seem determined to stick with that decision, even though reviving her (and the romance) would probably make their sales skyrocket.

To be fair they could have bowed to pressure and reversed the decision, at least they're being resolute (and as you said the books sell well, so they're not going to be that concerned...)

Boggles the imagination.

It certainly does

 

[Brit]

I've read "Moonstruck" and "Gabriel's Ghost" and have two or three more in my "to read" list--bought with money that I used to spend on Star Trek books.

I hope you have "Hope's Folly" in that stack, because as good as "Gabriel's Ghost" is, "Hope's Folly" is better. Linnea Sinclair rocks, actually she is who I want to be when I grow up.

Brit

 

[AuntKate]

They don't have to please everyone with every book. I think there are enough "relationship" readers to support that sort of book while the "traditional" readers read the usual stuff--except that they tend to want to "read everything." Can't lose in that case.

I'm just saying that it's high time to expand the target audience to include other readers who also want to spend their money.

 

[JB2005]

They don't have to please everyone with every book. I think there are enough "relationship" readers to support that sort of book while the "traditional" readers read the usual stuff--except that they tend to want to "read everything." Can't lose in that case.

I'm just saying that it's high time to expand the target audience to include other readers who also want to spend their money.

Well I suppose you can't argue with that, plus with the new movie now might be the ideal time for market penetration

 

[Octavia]

Well I suppose you can't argue with that, plus with the new movie now might be the ideal time for market penetration

Yeah, I reckon so. I maintain that Pocket they shot themselves in the demographic foot by offing the most visible female in Trek, but luckily for TrekLit the movie's given them a new opportunity with Uhura - who is at this point the only female Trek character with a higher profile than Janeway.

As to whether they'll utilise that opportunity, or piss it away, well... one can only wait and see. (Is it too bitter to say that I know which I'd put money on? )

 

[JB2005]

Well I suppose you can't argue with that, plus with the new movie now might be the ideal time for market penetration

Yeah, I reckon so. I maintain that Pocket they shot themselves in the demographic foot by offing the most visible female in Trek, but luckily for TrekLit the movie's given them a new opportunity with Uhura - who is at this point the only female Trek character with a higher profile than Janeway.

As to whether they'll utilise that opportunity, or piss it away, well... one can only wait and see. (Is it too bitter to say that I know which I'd put money on? )

Would be bitter yes

 

[Octavia]

Heh. I know. But have come to the conclusion that my preference is the kiss of death for any storyline. So, given that I actually like the

Spoiler: Trek XI spoilers

Spock/Uhura thing

naturally TPTB will bury it. Sadly, getting me to like something is the universe's means of arranging a quick and/or stupid end.

Although strangely, the longer the author's been dead, the less likely the above is to apply.

 

[JB2005]

Can you register your intention to vote Labour in a GB General election please :P

 

[Octavia]

Depends. I can be bribed. I would say that a box of Snifters would be an adequate reimbursement, but the local chocolate factory has recently discontinued making them. I only have one box left!

 

[JB2005]

Well they were produced by Admiral Janeway, afterall a SF Vice-Admiral's pay isn't that high in the 24th Century

 

[Octavia]

So I can also blame Pocket for my chocolate slump? Woohoo!

Those bastards. What did mint-chocolate-nougat ever do to them?

 

[JB2005]

Nothing, but the death of it is an interesting character development for pear drops

 

[Octavia]

Pear drops, sodding pear dops. What do I care for pear drops?! Nothing, that's what. Give them to them to the Borg, they seem to be on tea-break from boring the galaxy to death.

Besides, I would have thought that a decent confectioner could have made pear drops interesting without taking away my Snifters.

 

[JB2005]

Well Pear Drops were never really fleshed out, because of bad writer decisions on the show. Then we got an idea of how Pear-Drops and Snifters would be together, and now we see how Pear Drops are when they go solo

 

[Octavia]

...and now we see how Pear Drops are when they go solo

I've heard if you add alcohol to a pear drop you get a pear droop. But then alcohol makes everything more interesting. Hey! I've had a fantastic idea. Let's kill off the pear droop and let alcohol be the new Trek protagonist. I can't be the only one who wants to see Tuvok dressed up as a green fairy with one ear.

Still, there is a bright side to pear drop abundance, I guess. I'm left alone and miserably chocolate-less to imagine what Neil Gaiman could do with Janeway in the Q continuum. At least until the universe notices the story I'm wishing for and poor Mr. Gaiman gets hit by a bus.

Alas.

 

[Steve Roby]

From TrekLit...

I'm going to add just one thing...Janeway is seen going off with a Q in Before Dishonor.

The last person we "saw" doing this was Vash...and she's clearly not dead.

Margaret

That's Margaret Clark, the editor of the Voyager books. Sounds like they may be softening that "she's definitely dead and we just put that Q bit in because CBS made us do it" line.

 

[Frazzled]

What? What? WHATTT??? The world is spinning around me a little bit.... that's what some of us have been desperate to hear for a long time.

Wonder if she's serious? Guess we won't know for ages since she's 'going to add just one thing'.

Unworthy's pretty much written already, right? and Kirsten has insisted Janeway's staying dead? So probably nothing too exciting in October. Heck if she's resurrected it'd be in a TNG or even DS9 or Titan book..... better than leaving her dead from my POV!

Who knows?? (Except TPTB who certainly aren't going to share just yet)